MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) – Jude Bellingham shone in England's quarterfinal match against Norway, securing a dramatic 2-1 victory for his team. As he celebrated with teammate Harry Kane, the enthusiastic England fans expressed their admiration by singing the Beatles’ classic “Hey Jude.” Bellingham, the Real Madrid star, not only scored an equalizer in the first half but also netted the decisive goal in the third minute of extra time, propelling England into the World Cup semifinals for the first time since 2018.
With these two goals, Bellingham has matched Kane, bringing both players’ goal tally in the tournament to six. However, he remains two goals behind France’s Kylian Mbappé and Argentina’s Lionel Messi, being just one shy of Norway's Erling Haaland, who was kept scoreless during the match. Bellingham had already made headlines by scoring twice in the round of 16, where England triumphed over co-host Mexico.
As the tournament progresses, the pressure mounts for England, a team that won the World Cup in 1966. The Three Lions are now just one win away from reaching the final, with their upcoming matchup against Argentina in the semifinals on the horizon. Reflecting on the significance of the game, Bellingham stated, “The game is split into loads of different facets. Some of it is technical, tactical. For me, the biggest one is psychological and how you can manage setbacks, how you can manage adversity. This team showed yet again that they can do it and that’s a really valuable skill and trait to have.”
Despite the exhilarating outcome, not everyone was satisfied with England’s performance. Coach Thomas Tuchel voiced his concerns in a post-game interview, where he admitted that while the result was fantastic, he was not content with the overall performance, stating, “We made life very, very difficult for ourselves today.” In a subsequent news conference, Tuchel expressed pride in his squad for overcoming adversity but also highlighted areas for improvement, emphasizing the need for speed and clinical execution in their play.
Bellingham appeared to contradict Tuchel’s criticism, portraying a more optimistic stance on their performance. After the match in the sweltering South Florida heat, with temperatures soaring to 92 degrees Fahrenheit (33 Celsius), he acknowledged the challenges but expressed gratitude for the efforts of his teammates. “Well, whatever,” Bellingham remarked, shaking his head. “It’s difficult out there. It’s a tough shift. My thoughts and appreciation go to the players out there who put in a great shift.”
Norway’s Andreas Schjelderup had initially put his team ahead in the 36th minute, marking a significant moment for Norway as they reached their first quarterfinals in a World Cup. His goal, which surprised an England team that had dominated possession up until that point, was celebrated widely and showcased Norway's spirit, especially with the presence of their remarkable striker, Haaland. However, despite his strong performances, Haaland found himself unable to contribute to the scoreboard this time, exiting the match feeling dejected.
Norway almost extended their lead in the 56th minute when Torbjørn Heggem found the back of the net, only for the goal to be disallowed after a foul by Haaland was detected upon video review. Earlier in the match, Haaland missed a significant opportunity, denied by England’s goalkeeper Jordan Pickford. Bellingham's equalizer came from a fortunate play that involved a seemingly disruptive camera cable, which FIFA later clarified did not affect the game as the ball had not made contact with it.
The match also included a moment of silence to honor Jayden Adams, a South African midfielder whose death was announced earlier in the day. England was confident but aware, with their eyes now set on the semifinals against Argentina, where they hope to take another leap toward the coveted World Cup title.
